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Residents of Khalankomo village in Qumbu, Eastern Cape are living in fear following a wave of attacks on village inhabitants. It is alleged that armed attackers who call themselves “Amangonzayi”, which is a group of young on horseback men who cover themselves with balaclavas are terrorizing residents.
The suspects enter houses by kicking down doors or breaking windows. They then demand money, cellphones and even firearms. At times the victims are burnt with boiling water and hot irons when they refuse to cooperate with the offenders.
Two siblings in their late 70s are still nursing their wounds after they were attacked with guns and stabbed with spears. Monwabisi Manyamalala aged 76, who is a stroke survivor says he survived multiple head injuries after being assaulted with a firearm. “He beat me up and I tried to fight back, it is then that he assaulted me with a firearm. I asked him what he was doing he then said you are still talking? I then sat there and did nothing” said Manyamalala.
Mendu Songelwa who is a traditional leader says they are still trying to find a way to curb these acts, but these perpetrators come armed with firearms, and they must chase them away using spears, which is dangerous.
Police provincial spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli says police have made a breakthrough in some of these cases which led to an arrest of suspects aged between 17 and 18 years linked to these crimes.
Local villagers have since intreated with the South African Police Service to deploy more police officers because they are no longer feeling safe, and they are living in fear.
